While most of us spent half our childhoods trying to find ways to avoid going to school, parents in Vietnam are going to extreme lengths just to help their children access the education they deserve. Villagers in Huoi Ha village are risking their lives by placing children in giant plastic bags and swimming across the Nam Chim stream to get their children to school, according to reports in Vov.vn. During the dry season, children can rely on makeshift bamboo bridges to cross the stream. However, during rain season, they often have to resort to rafts to get from A to B, but if the rapids are too strong, they can easily…

The unprecedented Mauna Ulu eruption of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii led to some spectacular imagery a few decades back. Not only was it the longest eruption on record at the time, it was also easily accessible for the public to view. This combination of factors resulted in some amazing photography. The Mauna Ulu eruption began in 1969 and flowed fairly consistently until 1974, lasting a total of 1,774 days (just shy of five years). It was the longest-lasting and most voluminous eruption in 2,200 years, according to the U.S. Geological Society. The volcano spewed some 350 million cubic meters (approx. 458 million cubic yards) of lava—that’s enough molten rock to fill a colossal 140,000 Olympic-size swimming…

By repairing broken ceramics it’s possible to give a new lease of life to pottery that becomes even more refined thanks to its “scars”. The Japanese art of kintsugi teaches that broken objects are not something to hide but to display with pride. When a bowl, teapot or precious vase falls and breaks into a thousand pieces, we throw them away angrily and regretfully. Yet there is an alternative, a Japanese practice that highlights and enhances the breaks thus adding value to the broken object. It’s called kintsugi (金継ぎ), or kintsukuroi (金繕い), literally golden (“kin”) and repair (“tsugi”). This traditional Japanese art uses a precious metal – liquid gold, liquid…

Work has begun on France’s first “Alzheimer’s village” where patients will be given free rein without medication in a purpose-built medieval-style citadel designed to increase their freedom and reduce anxiety. Residents of the village in Dax, southwestern France, will be able to shop in a small supermarket, go to the hairdressers, local brasserie, library, gym and even a little farm. They will live in small shared houses designed to reflect their personal tastes and in four districts reminiscent of the southwestern French region between forests and the seashore. While it may sound similar to a typical residential complex, the inhabitants are all men and women suffering from Alzheimer’s, the commonest cause of…

The US government have spent years trying to hide whatever’s going on in Area 51 but their secrets won’t be safe for long because 1.2 million people have shown their support to storm the mysterious base. There’s no way they’ll be able to stop 1.2 million people. This could actually work, guys. The plan to descend upon the base has gained traction since going viral over the last few days, with over a million people joining in to show their interest. So when we storming Area 51? pic.twitter.com/NSDdpbOBdB — Jacksepticeye (@Jack_Septic_Eye) July 13, 2019 Admittedly the large amount of attention the plan has received has probably taken away the element…

Though they might not immediately come to mind when you think of cute or cuddly creatures, cows are just as friendly and fun as any canine or feline. Not only that, but they are also extremely intelligent animals—so intelligent, in fact, that they can experience emotions ranging from love and affection to anger and aggression. Not convinced? Then let these 23 udderly adorable cow photos do the talking. This big cow smooch. As it turns out, this adorable interaction isn’t uncommon between cattle. According to Judith Madey of The Nature Institute, older cows actually communicate by licking each other. How cute! This cow getting up close and personal. Cows are not afraid to get all up in your personal…

What appeared to be an exotic orange bird rescued from the side of a road and brought to a wildlife hospital in England has turned out to be a seagull covered in curry. A bright orange gull was rescued by members of the public who spotted the bird on the side of the A41 road in Haddenham in Buckinghamshire, England, and alerted Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital, who posted about the incident on Facebook. It remains unclear how the gull got itself covered in curry in the first place, the post explains. The curry was coating the bird’s feathers, making it unable to fly. “We have no idea how he got into this…

Dating back centuries, the Japanese art form known as Bonsai is well known. Almost everyone I know owns at least one bonsai. But growing and creating the beautiful miniature trees is not as easy as it may look. Masahuko Kimura is a well respected Japanese Bonsai master. His controversial designs broke many traditional rules which made him seem as a bit of a rebel. Eventually his work was accepted and is now widely recognized. His prized Bonsai, Kimura created well over 20 years ago, and at nearly 80 years old the Bonsai Master isn’t slowing down. Have a look at some of his beautiful tree’s below.

The Shiba Inu has been a popular breed of pet dog in Japan for generations, but the rise of social media has ushered in the golden age of Shiba popularity. See, the baseline Shiba character is often described using the Japanese word soboku, which, if you’re being generous, could be translated as “unpretentious,” but in the case of Shiba, more often works out to them being incredibly goofy. Shiba are stars of countless videos in which they get into cute and comic shenanigans with silly grins on their faces the whole time, and now they’re ready to brighten up your coffee break or tea time too. These drinking glasses, manufactured by Goodglas for R&K Japan, come in both clear and brown-tinted…

A kind word to a stranger can mean a world of difference. We are so busy and caught up in our everyday tasks that we often forget to acknowledge those around us. Still, giving someone a genuine, heartfelt compliment will win over hearts instantly. And with magazine ads, billboards, and commercials, women in particular often feel the pressure of just not being pretty enough. When the standard of beauty has been set, very few can actually meet those unrealistic benchmarks. Mehmet Genç aka Rotasiz Seyyah has made it his mission to tell the women he meets on his travels they are beautiful. The photographer captures the before and after of…